Effects of water potential on spore germination and viability of Fusarium species.

Germination of macroconidia and/or microconidia of 24 strains of Fusarium solani, F. chlamydosporum, F. culmorum, F. equiseti, F. verticillioides, F. sambucinum, F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum isolated from fluvial channels and sea beds of the south-eastern coast of Spain, and three control strains (F. oxysporum isolated from affected cultures) was studied in distilled water in response to a range of water potentials adjusted with NaCl. (0, -13.79, -41.79, -70.37, -99.56 and -144.54 bars). The viability (UFC/ml) of suspensions was also tested in three time periods (0, 24 and 48 h). Conidia always germinated in distilled water. The pattern of conidial germination observed of F. verticilloides, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum, F. chlamydosporum and F. culmorum was similar. A great diminution of spore germination was found in -13.79 bars solutions. Spore germination percentage for F. solani isolates was maximal at 48 h and -13.79 bars with 21.33% spore germination, 16% higher than germination in distilled water. F. equiseti shows the maximum germination percentage in -144.54 bars solution in 24 h time with 12.36% germination. This results did not agree with those obtained in the viability test were maximum germination was found in distilled water. The viability analysis showed the great capacity of F. verticilloides strains to form viable colonies, even in such extreme conditions as -144.54 bars after 24 h F. proliferatum colony formation was prevented in the range of -70.37 bars. These results show the clear affectation of water potential to conidia germination of Fusaria. The ability of certain species of Fusarium to develop a saprophytic life in the salt water of the Mediterranean Sea could be certain. Successful germination, even under high salty media conditions, suggests that Fusarium spp. could have a competitive advantage over other soil fungi in crops irrigated with saline water. In the specific case of F. solani, water potential of -13.79 bars affected germination positively. It could indicate that F. solani has an special physiological mechanism of survival in low water potential environments.

The interactive effects of temperature and osmotic potential on the growth of marine isolates of Fusarium solani.

The mycelial growth of 18 Fusarium solani strains isolated from sea beds of the south-eastern coast of Spain was tested on potato-dextrose-agar adjusted to different osmotic potentials with either KCl or NaCl (-1.50 to -144.54 bars) in 10 degrees C intervals ranging from 15 to 35 degrees C. Fungal growth was determined by measuring colony diameter after 4 days of incubation. Mycelial growth was maximal at 25 degrees C. The quantity and frequency pattern of mycelial growth of F. solani differ significantly at 15 and 25 degrees C, with maximal growth occurring at the highest water potential tested (-1.50 bars); and at 35 degrees C, with a maximal mycelial growth at -13.79 bars. The effect of water potential was independent of salt composition. The general growth pattern of F. solani showed declining growth at potentials below -41.79 bars. Fungal growth at 35 degrees C was always higher than that grow at 15 degrees C, of all the water potentials tested. Significant differences observed in the response of mycelia to water potential and temperature as main and interactive effects. The viability of cultures was increasingly inhibited as the water potential dropped, but some growth was still observed at -99.56 bars. These findings could indicate that marine strains of F. solani have a physiological mechanism that permits survival in environments with low water potential. The observed differences in viability and the magnitude of growth could indicate that the biological factors governing potential and actual growth are affected by osmotic potential in different ways.